Gudauri

The weeks leading up to our adventure were characterized by snow, snow and more snow. That's why we all agreed on the goal of our trip: we wanted to be as safe as possible while having as much fun as possible!

The Georgians call their country "Sakartwelo" the land of the Kartvelians and derive their origins from the mythical progenitor Kartlos, who they believe was one of Noah's great-grandchildren. The Kartvelian tribes are considered to be the original inhabitants of the Caucasus, with their own script and language. Located on the border between Asia and Europe, Georgia is a mosaic of different cultures and religions. Important trade routes such as the Silk Road ran right through the middle of the country and brought Georgia into contact with the cultures of Egypt, Persia and Europe.

The request in the fall came out of the blue: "Do you want to go to Georgia? I was there in the summer, the mountains look promising." Georgia, hmmm. Check the rusty geography in my brain. It should be somewhere in the east, close to Russia. Oh yes, there was a conflict over an autonomous region between Georgia and Russia in 2008. That's it for my knowledge of Georgia. Wrongly so, because the country has an incredible amount to offer, as I will gradually learn during the trip.

For seven years now, the friends of the Lauf Rauf collective have been meeting up in the mountains to spend a week exploring the terrain and enjoying their time together. This year, for the first time, they traveled outside the Alps and sought their fortune in Georgia. Toni Brey, photographer and passionate freerider from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, was there again and brought back a lot of beautiful pictures.